If you own a BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet, you most likely have installed several apps and games from the BlackBerry App World™ storefront. Today I’d like to show you how you can identify what version of an app or game is installed on your tablet in addition to how to view the security permissions for a specific app or game. This is useful information to know as security permissions can affect how an app or game performs on a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, and what personal data it shares and stores on your behalf.

Identifying App and Game Versions

To identify the version of an installed app or game, you will need to view the app or game within BlackBerry App World. To view previously installed apps or games, you can use the “My World” option within BlackBerry App World while using the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, or manually search for an installed app or game on your tablet. After opening the app or game you’ve installed within BlackBerry App World, the version number will appear as well as several options depending on what type of app or game it is. If you’ve installed a trial version of a game you’d like to buy, the “Purchase” button will appear as well as a “Delete” button in case you’d like to remove it instead. You’ll also notice that if an upgrade is available, you can identify the currently installed version and what the upgraded version is.

Reviewing App and Game Security Permissions

If you’ve installed an app such as Facebook® for BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, you would have been asked during installation what security permissions you’d like to grant within the app. These permissions determine whether or not apps or games can access specific features of the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. The BlackBerry PlayBook tablet evaluates every request that an app makes to access a capability on the tablet. This means that the permissions you choose to allow or deny can prevent an app from gaining access to your personal information on the tablet, and you should be aware of what you’re sharing with each app. You may choose to trust some apps with more of your information than others. Listed below are the security permissions included with Facebook for the BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0.0.987:

Files – Allow the app to access your pictures, music, documents and other files. This could potentially be used to share your personal data.

GPS Location – Allow the app to access your GPS location. This could potentially be used to track your movement or share your location with other services.

Camera – Allow the app to take pictures and record video. This could potentially be used to detect your surroundings.

For example, if you set the GPS Location permission to Denied and you want to Check In using Facebook on a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, you’ll receive an error message. In order to Check In, you’ll need to change the GPS Location security permission to “Allowed” or “Prompt” instead.

To review and change Security Permissions for apps and games, complete the following steps:

1. On the home screen, tap the Gears icon (circled in yellow) or swipe down from the top bezel to access the Settings menu.

2. Select “Security” followed by selecting “Application Permissions”.

3. Select the App or Game that you want to review or modify.

4. Review and modify settings if needed. To save changes, tap ”Back” when you are finished.

Got a question about the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet? Leave a comment and let me know!